@blightygamer I'm going to guess that this was meant for me. ;) Thanks!
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The State of Games, Episode 24 – The One About Farming
February 13th, 2012
Have you ever been in the presence of a female gamer when a box of Agricola: The Goodies is first cracked open and all those adorable little pigs and cows come spilling out? Have you regained hearing in your ears from the squeal of delight? And why, exactly, is a tiny wooden pumpkin or squash so darn adorable? Honestly, we don’t know either but we’re going to talk about it for at least 15 minutes or so. Come on in!
The Big Game before the Big Game: Watch VivaJava live!
February 3rd, 2012
On Sunday, much of the world and pretty much all of America will be huddled around a glowing screen watching an epic battle unfold. This will be a battle of shifting tactics, grand postulations, brilliant head games… and lots and lots of tiny wooden beans. That’s right, VivaJava is coming to you live on Super Bowl Sunday! Java lovers and the coffee curious alike can witness a full game of VivaJava: The Coffee Game being played direct from Cartrunk Entertainment HQ with the designer himself, T.C. Petty III.
Here’s a bit direct from Cartrunk Entertainment’s John Moller:
“We asked, you answered. We postulated having a live streaming game of VivaJava during the Superbowl. Your answers here, in twitter, on tumblr and via email were enough to make the decision seem like a good one. We’re doing it.
Yes, Cartrunk Entertainment will be live streaming a game of VivaJava at 4:00pm (Eastern Standard Time) on Sunday February 5, 2012! The game’s designer, T.C. Petty III will be here at our home base in Delaware to join us for this awesome game! If you can tune in, you should!
We’ll have at least 6 experienced players blending and researching their way to coffee victory. It could be a full house by Sunday with 8 players vying for the coveted coffee crown!”
For more information about the event – and a link to several other VivaJava-related goodies – hop on over to Cartrunk Entertainment: http://cartrunk.net/vivajava-the-big-game/
The Taste of Digital Analog: iOS Games Reviews
February 3rd, 2012There comes a time in every gamer’s life when they look up from their work/latte/nap and search their souls for the answer to a very important question: “Should I get an iPad?” In this gamer’s case, the answer – finally – was a resounding yes. And, lo, I gathered Christmas funds and gift cards and nickels and dimes and journeyed to my local Apple store for that magical thin tablet wherein I could occasionally turn my extreme analog passion into a passing digital pastime. Now that said tablet is in my possession, I – and many others – may ask another very important question: “Was it worth it?” Honestly, I’m not sure just yet but I’m going to write about the whole thing anyway, so let’s just get started.
For the most part, the following reviews will be from the iPad user’s experience. However, I’ll be sure to note when an app is optimized for iPad and iPhone. Since I also have an Android phone, I’ll note if there’s a comparable Android version of the app, as well – and if it’s any good.
Ticket to Ride
Search the internets for a “best of” list of must-have iPad apps, and Ticket to Ride is at the top of the list. What most lists fail to mention, however, is the hefty (for an app) price tag of $6.99. In the end, I decided to hand in the cash to check out the game for the sake of comprehensive journalism – at least, that’s what I told Monkey238, anyway. Thankfully, the money seemed well-spent. The Ticket to Ride app is gorgeous and smooth, with no hiccups (so far) and an extremely user-friendly interface. The AI is just as sneaky and annoying as playing against a certain Monkey who always seems to know what routes I need at just the right time. And even the sounds – and soundtrack – won’t make you want to claw at your ears after a few hours of play. In fact, I’m betting more than a few won’t be able to stop humming “Red River Valley” for days – and like it!
In summary, unless you’ve played Ticket to Ride until you never want to think about nor get near a train again in your lifetime, this app is a real treat for the tablet.
Impression score: 
6 out of 6
Ticket to Ride is produced by Days of Wonder and is compatible with Game Center. It’s available in the iTunes store for $6.99.
Bid High, Win Low – A Guest Review of The Speicherstadt
January 30th, 2012Hello, Dice Hate Me fans! It’s Josh from Board Game Reviews by Josh. With Chris’ time being invested in VivaJava at the moment, I volunteered to help keep the reviews coming! Whereas our writing styles are a bit different, hopefully I’ll provide the kind of high quality review you’ve come to expect. Without further ado, let’s take a look at The Speicherstadt.
It’s Time to Get Caffeinated!
January 24th, 2012
Just about all of you dear readers were there when Carnival was announced to the public. And just about the same amount pledged their support on Kickstarter to help us get Dice Hate Me Games off the ground. It was an amazing experience, made only greater by the outpouring of support and encouragement.
Now, we’re back. And we’ve brought coffee.
Dice Hate Me Games is proud to present VivaJava: The Coffee Game! Designer T.C. Petty III has spent the last three years perfecting this unique and engaging game and now it’s time for it to be sent out into the wild. VivaJava is now available on Kickstarter, and with your help, we can see this wonderful game on the shelves of great stores everywhere.
In a nutshell, VivaJava is a “social Euro” for 3-8 players. What this means is that the game will satisfy that craving for a Euro game while keeping gameplay open and highly interactive through cooperation and negotiation. For more information on VivaJava, you can check out the official Kickstarter page, or the games page on Dice Hate Me Games.
As always, thank you for reading Dice Hate Me – and regardless of whether you choose to back VivaJava, you can rest assured that Dice Hate Me will continue to bring you all the quality gaming news, reviews and previews you’ve come to expect since our inception. Taste the quality!
The State of Games, Episode 23 – The One About the Unpublished Masses
January 22nd, 2012
There’s nothing like hitting the open road with a box full of hopes and dreams, arriving at a destination, unboxing those dreams and letting a whole bunch of random strangers tear them apart. And believe it or not, that’s a good thing! In this instance, those dreams are board games, and in this episode of The State of Games, we’re all set to tell the stories of those myriad dreamers.
Couples Retreat 2012 Recap
January 19th, 2012It’s been a quiet few weeks here on Dice Hate Me, but that certainly hasn’t meant much quiet on the homefront. Quite the opposite, actually, as we’ve been gaming through the holidays and working like mad to get VivaJava wrapped and ready for its Kickstarter debut (Wednesday, Jan. 25 – mark your calendars!). If you listened to the last State of Games podcast – and if you haven’t, it’s right over here – you dear readers already know that we took a little gaming retreat with our friends Shawn and Jacki. I also promised a little closer look at some of the titles that hit the table, some for the very first time, so here they are for your reading pleasure.
Nefarious
This unassuming little title from Donald X. Vaccarino (he of Dominion fame) was at the top of my Essen wishlist for the mad scientist theme alone. Game Whisperer Richard Bliss was kind enough to loan us his personal copy so that we could discover, thankfully, that the game is as fun as the theme. Nefarious has received mixed reviews since its release, but Monkey238 and I have had an enjoyable time exploring its simple and subtle nuances, and it makes a fantastic and quick-playing four-player game for casual gatherings. The mechanics are pretty straightforward and the basic strategies not terribly complex, but what keeps the game fresh and exciting is the use of two Twist cards that are revealed at the beginning of the game. These cards turn some of the mechanics and goals on their heads, mixing up gameplay, and often creating combos that can be downright devious in their machinations. It’s family-tested, as well – my mom had no trouble picking up on the basics within a couple of turns. It’s a safe bet this subtle gem will be a hit at your next science club reunion.
The State of Games, Episode 22 – The One About Two Pairs
January 9th, 2012Sometimes when you’re gaming, it’s better to be sitting back with an easy pair than dealing with cleaning up after a full house – if you know what we’re saying; and if you listen to this podcast you’ll certainly get the reference. So grab your significant other, pour a glass of your house finest and let The State of Games bring you closer together. You’re welcome.
Dice Hate Me Game of the Year Awards 2011
December 23rd, 2011
Wow, what a year for boardgaming – and for Dice Hate Me! There has been a plethora of wonderful games released this year, and Monkey238 and I have been lucky enough to play more than our fair share. At last count, we have learned and played more than 115 new games in 2011 – that’s an average of one game every three days!
Last year around this time, I mentioned that 2010 had been a great year for independent success stories, and 2011 has quadrupled that success. This has truly been the year of Kickstarter, and we would definitely know – Carnival was a part of it! Because of the wonderful resources of fans, supporters and curious gamers alike, we all have been privileged to play many titles this year that may never have seen the light of day without the benefit of crowdfunding, and 2012 will bring even more indie gems to our tables.
But before we look forward to gaming in 2012, it’s time to take a moment and reflect on the best and brightest of 2011. Thus, we present the Dice Hate Me 2011 Game of the Year Awards! This year, the main category has been changed just a bit; only those games that were published in 2011 are eligible for the award. However, in order to honor those games that graced our gaming table for the first time this year but were published before 2011, I decided to introduce the Dice Hate Me Discovery of the Year Award. Breaking up the category may seem to lighten the competition a bit, but bear in mind that the games list is four times as large as before! The final decision was still mind-numbingly difficult, but in the end, the choice became clear.
The State of Games, Episode 21 – The One About Gaming Memories of 2011
December 20th, 2011Auld lang syne. Many of you have heard the phrase, and many more of you have sang it as the ball in Times Square has dropped, signifying a new year. Essentially, it translates as “long, long ago” – as in “a galaxy far away.” However, in relation to convential transpirations, it simply means “things that happened this year.” And that’s going to be our featured translation as we take a look back on the year that was – in games.
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